Industry News – BioCrossroads

Winners highlight the people, companies and partnerships driving Indiana’s tech growth

INDIANAPOLIS (April 24, 2026) — TechPoint, the industry-led growth initiative for Indiana’s digital innovation economy, tonight announced the winners of the 2026 Mira Awards, known as the “Oscars of Indiana Tech.”

TechPoint presented 17 awards at Friday night’s celebration, selecting winners from a slate of 106 finalists. A team of independent judges evaluated each finalist following live presentations. In total, TechPoint received 231 submissions for this year’s awards. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation and Google are the presenting sponsors of the Mira Awards.

“The 2026 Mira Award winners directly reflect the key role that technology now plays across every sector of Indiana’s economy,” said Eric Christopher, president and CEO of TechPoint. “From startups to established companies, their innovation, collaboration and true grit are driving productivity, supporting entrepreneurs, and strengthening communities statewide, while setting the pace for what comes next.”

Since 1999, the Mira Awards have celebrated Indiana’s top technology innovators, disruptors, business leaders, and game-changers. The awards showcase the state’s most advanced achievements across multiple industries and highlight the spirit of innovation that defines Indiana’s digital economy. With tonight’s awards, only 386 Mira Awards have been presented, selected from thousands of nominations.

“The achievements of this year’s winners reflect how central technology has become to Indiana’s economic growth and prosperity,” said Melina Kennedy, CEO of the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership. “The alignment of talent, industry, and innovation is strengthening key industries, expanding opportunity in every region of our state, and building momentum for the future.”

The 2026 Mira Award winners are:

AgriNovus Indiana AgBioscience Innovation Award: FiberX (Merrillville)
FiberX earned top recognition for its breakthrough approach to replacing traditional polymers and forever chemicals with high-performance, plant-based alternatives. The company transforms agricultural byproducts into sustainable fiber materials designed for use across industries, including packaging, textiles, and consumer goods. Judges praised the company’s strong research partnerships, deep industry traction, and meaningful environmental impact, reducing agricultural waste while maintaining quality and cost competitiveness. With the potential to transform multiple markets, FiberX stands out as a powerful example of Indiana-rooted innovation shaping the future of sustainable materials.

AnalytiXIN AI Transformation Award: Indiana University (Bloomington)
Indiana University earned the AI Transformation Award for its institution-wide, strategic rollout of generative AI, which includes one of the largest ChatGPT implementations in higher education, impacting more than 120,000 students, faculty, and staff. Judges highlighted IU’s clear governance framework, its GenAI 101 microcredential that teaches 20 practical AI skills and reaches tens of thousands of learners, as well as a forward-looking roadmap that embeds AI into teaching, research, and operations in a responsible, scalable way. By pairing broad access to tools with structured training and real-world application, IU is building a model for how higher education can integrate AI at scale.

Ascend Indiana Talent Innovation Award: Eli Lilly and Company (Indianapolis), Ivy Tech Community College (Indianapolis, Bloomington, and Lafayette Campuses), Purdue University (West Lafayette and Indianapolis)
This cross-institutional partnership earned top recognition for its thoughtful, employer-driven approach to expanding Indiana’s tech talent pipeline at scale. Building on initiatives such as the Lilly Scholars program and workforce-aligned training across Ivy Tech, Purdue University, and Indiana University, the collaboration creates a more connected pathway from education to employment. Judges noted the program’s seamless coordination across major institutions, its ability to extend existing models into new regions and disciplines, and its clear alignment with real workforce needs. With strong funding, strategic design, and a direct pathway from training to employment, the initiative demonstrates a powerful, statewide blueprint for talent innovation.

BioCrossroads Life Sciences Innovation Award: Syra Health Corp. (Carmel)
Syra Health stood out for its thoughtful and scalable approach to innovation in mental and behavioral health, combining validated clinical tools with AI-driven support for patients and providers. The company delivers technology-enabled solutions across behavioral health, population health, and healthcare workforce services, helping organizations improve access, care coordination, and outcomes in real time. Their platform bridges critical gaps in access, care coordination, and language inclusivity, with early clinical validation and strong adoption indicators. With a growing team, multi-state expansion plans, and publicly traded momentum, Syra Health is well positioned to drive meaningful life sciences impact across Indiana and beyond.

Community Impact Award: P30 (Indianapolis)
P30 delivered one of the clearest and most compelling community-impact cases in this year’s field, demonstrating measurable and deeply rooted support for underserved entrepreneurs on Indianapolis’s far Eastside. Based in a repurposed community space, P30 provides coworking, business programming, mentorship, and access to capital, moving individuals from idea to execution with the tools and support they need to grow. P30 also creates on-ramps into the tech ecosystem, connecting entrepreneurs to digital resources, innovation networks, and other opportunities that are often out of reach. Judges consistently highlighted P30’s visible outcomes, commitment to equity, and the meaningful pathways they are building for the far Eastside and beyond.

Conexus Indiana Manufacturing Innovation Award: MSP Manufacturing (Bloomington)
MSP Manufacturing was selected for its deep, multilayered integration of Industry 4.0 technologies, including advanced machining, robotics, AI-driven programming, digital twin initiatives, and next-generation ERP systems, all implemented largely in-house by a small but highly skilled team. The company, which has been manufacturing precision components for aerospace, defense, and aviation industries for more than 80 years, blends legacy craftsmanship with modern automation to deliver complex, mission-critical parts with speed and precision. Judges highlighted MSP’s willingness to take risks, upskill its workforce, and reinvest in people, resulting in increased wages, expanded capacity, and major diversification into new sectors. With deep collaboration across Indiana partners and a bold vision for future growth, MSP demonstrates what transformative, future-focused manufacturing looks like in the state.

Deal of the Year: BiomEdit’s $18.6M Series B
BiomEdit’s $18.6M Series B was selected as Deal of the Year for its strategic significance and strong signal of industry validation. The company is developing microbiome-based solutions using synthetic biology, including engineered probiotics designed to prevent disease in livestock without relying on antibiotics. Elanco Animal Health’s leadership in the round highlights both the commercial relevance of BiomEdit’s platform and a clear pathway to market through one of the industry’s leading animal health companies. Judges noted the scale of the investment, the caliber of participating investors, and the deal’s potential to drive long-term growth and economic impact within the state.

Emerging Tech Leader Award: Jonathon Brack, V2X (Fishers)
Jonathon Brack was recognized for his combination of technical excellence and servant leadership, resulting in significant growth and performance in a highly complex defense and national security environment. In his role at V2X, he leads teams developing and deploying mission-critical systems, with a focus on building scalable, repeatable solutions that perform in high-stakes conditions. Judges recognized his ability to build culture, mentor and elevate those around him, while delivering results that create meaningful impact for both his organization and the people it serves.

Innovation of the Year: Syra Health (Carmel)
Syra Health stood out for its technology-enabled innovation in healthcare, including HIPAA-compliant platforms and the emerging SyraBot, which judges described as potentially revolutionary for providers, patients, and system-level efficiency. The company delivers solutions across behavioral health, population health, and healthcare workforce services, with tools that support care navigation, training, and clinical operations. Their work is showing clear impact and growing adoption, particularly in high-need areas. While the broader statewide impact is still developing, the innovation’s significance to Indiana’s life sciences sector and its potential to shape a more effective and accessible healthcare ecosystem set Syra Health apart for Innovation of the Year.

Innovation Service Partner of the Year: Purdue Innovates (West Lafayette)
Purdue Innovates earned recognition for building a comprehensive, end-to-end platform that helps researchers and founders turn complex, real-world problems into commercial solutions, including the addition of in-house patent attorneys to accelerate and protect intellectual property. The initiative brings together funding, mentorship, startup support, and commercialization resources, guiding innovations from early research through company formation and market launch. This model already has supported a significant number of startups and products, bringing new companies, technologies, and investment into Indiana’s innovation ecosystem. With substantial resources devoted to growing this pipeline, Purdue Innovates is well positioned to expand that impact in the years ahead.

Nextech Computer Science Teacher of the Year: Carissa Domrase, Franklin Central High School (Indianapolis)
Carissa Domrase was recognized for her ability to build rigorous, hands-on computer science programs that prepare students for real-world success. Students in her AP Computer Science and web development courses take on semester-long projects with an emphasis on adaptability and collaboration, working in dynamic teams that mirror professional environments. She has guided students who have excelled in internships, advanced projects, and leadership roles after graduation, reflecting a classroom that develops both technical mastery and personal growth. As a department chair, Domrase mentors other educators and works across grade levels to ensure more students, including those from underrepresented backgrounds, have the opportunity to succeed in STEM pathways.

Resilience Award: Alicia Mckoy, Peak Mind (Indianapolis)
Alicia Mckoy was honored for her extraordinary courage in the face of relentless cyber harassment, identity theft, and personal attacks that threatened both her wellbeing and her startup’s survival. Rather than be deterred, she transformed adversity into purpose, continuing to build Peak Mind, an Indianapolis-based technology company that uses AI, biometrics, and immersive tools like virtual reality to help individuals and organizations better understand and manage stress in real time. Judges noted Mckoy’s ability to stabilize her company while also advocating for others navigating trauma, and to remain an active contributor to Indiana’s entrepreneurial and tech communities. Her story reflects strength, determination, and an unwavering commitment to turning hardship into hope.

Rising Entrepreneur of the Year: Kyle Armstrong, RefReps (Indianapolis)
Kyle Armstrong earned top honors for delivering a best-in-class entrepreneurial performance marked by clear vision, meaningful traction, and exceptional execution. He founded RefReps to address a growing national shortage of sports officials, building a digital platform that provides standardized curriculum, interactive training, and real-world simulation tools that is used by schools and organizations across the country. Judges highlighted his ability to identify a critical market need, build an innovative training platform, and navigate obstacles with focus and discipline. His strong growth strategy and commitment to strengthening the sports officiating ecosystem set him apart as an entrepreneur with both momentum and long-term potential.

Startup of the Year: Ekkobar (Indianapolis)
Ekkobar, a technology company pioneering AI-driven social intelligence, was recognized for its sophisticated product, strong early traction, and a team with deep experience in the entertainment industry. The startup’s platform uses conversational and predictive AI to analyze billions of social signals, helping brands, creators, and sports and media organizations understand their audiences and respond to what’s shaping culture in real time. Judges noted the company’s clear market understanding, strong execution, and meaningful innovation in the sports media space. Ekkobar demonstrated the momentum and maturity of a startup poised for significant growth.

Tech Company of the Year: V2X (Indianapolis)
V2X earned top honors for its ability to deliver mission-critical innovation in one of the most complex and demanding industries: national defense and human safety. The company brings together advanced engineering, AI, cybersecurity, logistics, and training to support critical missions across the full lifecycle, from strategy to deployment, ensuring systems are ready in high-stakes environments. Judges recognized the company’s clear articulation of the problems it solves, its rapid concept-to-deployment execution, and its role in advancing a safer, more resilient world through technology built and deployed in Indiana. With a disciplined approach, strong purpose, and real-world impact, V2X demonstrated the leadership and momentum that define a standout tech company.

TechPoint Tech Innovation of the Year: Flexware Innovation (Indianapolis)
Flexware Innovation delivers a standout solution that directly addresses complex industrial challenges with clear, measurable impact. The company specializes in automation, systems integration, and custom software solutions, working closely with manufacturers to modernize operations and connect legacy systems with new technology. Their approach combines strong technical innovation with an experienced development team and a disciplined process that ensures reliability, scalability, and real-world adoption. Flexware’s ability to pair deep engineering expertise with practical, on-the-ground execution made them the clear choice for Tech Innovation of the Year.

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About TechPoint: TechPoint is the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership’s branded initiative for Indiana’s tech-powered ecosystem driving the digital economy through talent, innovation and community with the overall goal of making Indiana a leader in digital adoption. TechPoint works with public, private, and industry partners to strengthen the tech talent pipeline, enhance resource connectivity for enterprise organizations and startups alike, and elevate the industry by activating the community and amplifying stories of success. For more information, visit techpoint.org. Media contact: Lara Beck, [email protected]

Indiana's Life Sciences Ecosystem in 2025

Advancing BioCrossroads' 10-Year Strategy

INDIANAPOLIS (March 18, 2026)—BioCrossroads today released its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting another landmark year for Indiana’s life sciences ecosystem. The report highlights BioCrossroads’ efforts to support robust talent pipelines, unprecedented economic impact, and national recognition of Indiana’s leadership in life sciences.

Indiana remained number one in the nation for life sciences and pharmaceutical exports. The report also highlights continued growth and momentum across the state’s life sciences and healthcare sectors: $102 billion total economic activity across Indiana’s life sciences industry; 70,000 Hoosiers employed in life sciences across 3,312 establishments; $177,000 average annual wage in life sciences; 386,100 healthcare workers across Indiana; 36 venture capital deals totaling approximately $190 million invested in Indiana life sciences companies in 2025.

“By crossing the $100 billion threshold of total economic contribution, Indiana’s life sciences sector has reached a remarkable milestone that reflects decades of collaboration among industry, academia, philanthropy, government, and investors,” said Vince Wong, President and CEO of BioCrossroads. “More importantly, it shows that Indiana’s model of connecting research, development, manufacturing, talent, and entrepreneurship is producing real results.”

The Annual Report outlines progress across BioCrossroads’ 10-year Strategic Roadmap for Advancing Indiana’s Life Sciences Industries launched in January 2024, detailing major progress in advancing innovation, manufacturing, workforce development, capital formation, and ecosystem collaboration that are strengthening Indiana’s position as a global life sciences leader.

Last year, BioCrossroads expanded support for startups and founders through the Startup Catalyst Center, including the launch of the AXIS Mentoring Program, which connected 14 founders with 36 mentors and delivered more than 50 hours of mentoring in its first year. The organization also helped support the launch of Indiana University Launch Accelerator for Biosciences (IU LAB) to accelerate the commercialization of university-based life sciences research.

Indiana strengthened its role as a global manufacturing hub, highlighted by securing its designation as the Radiopharmaceutical Capital of the World™, reflecting the state’s leadership in research, development, manufacturing, logistics, and specialized workforce capabilities for the rapidly growing radiopharmaceutical sector.

BioCrossroads continued to build talent pipelines through efforts such as the BioTrain initiative, part of the federally funded Heartland BioWorks Tech Hub powered by the Applied Research Institute (ARI) and supported by the federal Economic Development Administration (EDA). The program is developing new biomanufacturing training capacity in partnership with Ivy Tech Community College and Purdue University, leveraging the Midwest-region exclusive curriculum partnership with the National Institute of Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT). BioCrossroads also was designated to serve as the Industry Talent Associations for Healthcare and Life Sciences sectors to help launch the Indiana Career Apprenticeship Pathway (INCAP) to build scalable pathways into high-demand healthcare and life sciences careers, starting with high-school work-based apprenticeships. In 2025, BioCrossroads also expanded statewide and national engagement through convenings, partnerships, and communications efforts designed to elevate Indiana’s life sciences thought leadership.

The 2025 BioCrossroads Life Sciences Summit, held in partnership with AgriNovus Indiana, brought together more than 350 leaders to explore Indiana’s emerging leadership in One Health, connecting human, animal, and plant health innovation. BioCrossroads hosted four FrameWORX events, bringing together more than 500 industry participants to discuss key issues including research commercialization, workforce development, and emerging technologies.

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About BioCrossroads
An initiative of the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), BioCrossroads is a catalyst for Indiana’s life sciences sector, advancing the state’s position as a global leader in research, development, manufacturing, and healthcare innovation. Through strategic initiatives, industry partnerships, and ecosystem development, BioCrossroads supports the growth of life sciences companies, talent, and investment across Indiana. It supports the region’s existing enterprises and encourages new business development. The initiative fosters public-private collaboration by uniting a diverse range of academic, industry, and philanthropic stakeholders, all collectively focused on advancing Indiana’s life sciences sector. Committed to supporting the growth of capital investments and talent development, BioCrossroads provides support to both existing and new life sciences enterprises, including the Indiana Health Information Exchange, OrthoWorx, and the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute. BioCrossroads champions the advancement of cutting-edge research and development, plays a crucial role in building and nurturing a robust talent pipeline, and is dedicated to establishing Indiana as a thriving hub for life sciences manufacturing. To learn more about BioCrossroads, visit biocrossroads.com.

CICP Launches Catalyst Scholars Fund to Drive Advanced Chemistry Innovation in Indiana

Indianapolis (March 5, 2026) – The Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) has announced the launch of the Catalyst Scholars Fund, which marks the first phase of a broader Advanced Chemistry strategy for Indiana. The strategy involves a coordinated effort to position Indiana as the national leader in the development and deployment of technologies needed to reshore and secure critical supply chains for medicines, animal health products, and agricultural inputs, which is a national security priority.

The Catalyst Scholars Fund is a five-year initiative to enable Indiana’s leading STEM higher education institutions, including its four R1 research institutions (Indiana University, Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame) along with Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology to attract world-class research teams in Advanced Chemistry through strategic cluster and eminent scholar recruitment. The Fund will provide matching support for major equipment, laboratory infrastructure, and startup packages, strengthening the State’s ability to attract and retain top research talent with the expertise and capabilities to develop new technologies with translational potential that can be deployed to strengthen domestic supply chains.

Supported by a $69.4 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to the CICP Foundation Inc. and matching commitments from participating universities, the Catalyst Scholars Fund, spearheaded by CICP and powered by its branded initiatives, BioCrossroads and AgriNovus Indiana, will enable these Indiana higher education institutions to recruit 25 to 45 world class faculty and their teams over five years to tackle industry informed grand challenges in analytical chemistry, novel macromolecular chemistries, automation, and artificial intelligence applications in bioscience manufacturing.

Leveraging Indiana’s unique strengths, including global life sciences leaders Eli Lilly and Company, Elanco Animal Health, and Corteva and these world-class research and teaching institutions and the State’s position as the nation’s leading exporter of life science products, the initiative will accelerate new research and translation of platform technologies. Together, these tools and capabilities are relevant across human health, animal health, and plant science, serving as a compelling example of the power of Indiana’s One Health ecosystem.

“The Catalyst Scholars Fund begins to position Indiana as the go-to location for innovation and technology implementation in Advanced Chemistry manufacturing,” said Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) CEO Melina Kennedy. “CICP and its initiatives, BioCrossroads and AgriNovus, are pleased to help align these CEOs, university presidents, and ecosystem partners around a single vision: making Indiana the national hub where world-class academic researchers and industry partners come together to strengthen our nation’s most critical supply chains.”

“The Catalyst Scholars Fund builds on IU’s longstanding strengths in the life sciences and accelerates the momentum of IU LAB to rapidly translate research into innovation that fuels Indiana’s competitiveness,” said Indiana University President Pam Whitten. “As Indiana’s largest research institution with a statewide footprint, IU brings unmatched scale, depth, and capability to this effort. By joining forces with the other initiative partners and industry leaders, we are creating research clusters and recruiting talent that will help secure the nation’s medicine and food supply while opening new opportunities for Hoosiers in every corner of the state.”

“From its two Nobel Prizes in Chemistry to the recently launched One Health strategic priority, Purdue is ready to work with industry partners to develop breakthrough research and excellence at unparalleled scale in talent pipeline through four chemistry-related departments, thus securing critical supply chains onshore and positioning our state as the default destination for advanced chemistry innovation,” said Purdue University President Mung Chiang. “The Catalyst Scholars Fund and the visionary support from Lilly Endowment accelerate our efforts to build the infrastructure and recruit and retain the best faculty in advanced chemistry.”

“Throughout our history, the University of Notre Dame has been guided by its Catholic mission and our founder’s vision to be a ‘powerful means for doing good in this country,’” said Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., University of Notre Dame president. “By supporting advanced chemistry efforts that help to develop our nation’s early career workforce and to reshore manufacturing in critical areas, the Catalyst Scholars Fund reflects our ongoing commitment to harnessing discovery and collaboration, particularly in service of the most vulnerable and underserved in society. These efforts build upon our existing leadership of major initiatives in this space, including the NSF-funded Center for Bioanalytic Metrology and the Center for Computer Aided Synthesis. We look forward to working alongside our industrial and academic partners to realize the vision of Catalyze Indiana and strengthen the health and capacity of our state.”

Robert A. Coons, President, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology shared, “I hope every Rose-Hulman graduate leaves with not only knowledge, but a passion for innovation and a drive to keep discovering new ways to solve hard problems. The Catalyst Scholars Fund amplifies those instincts across Indiana’s higher education institutions, empowering faculty and students to take smart risks, push the boundaries of what’s possible in advanced chemistry, and create technologies that will secure critical supply chains and improve lives for years to come.”

Indiana is uniquely positioned to become the nation’s epicenter for advanced chemistry manufacturing, with global life sciences leaders, top-tier research universities, and a deep manufacturing base that already generates more than $43 billion annually and employs nearly 40,000 Hoosiers in advanced chemistry-related sectors. By prioritizing talent through the Catalyst Scholars Fund, Indiana is building the research depth and technical capacity required to support workforce training and supply chain infrastructure.

The program also promotes statewide collaboration through coordinated equipment sharing agreements among universities, maximizing the impact of infrastructure investments. Major analytical instruments and specialized facilities enabled through the fund will be available to researchers across institutions.

Industry partners including Eli Lilly and Company, Elanco Animal Health, and Corteva will help inform annual technology priorities and engage directly with recruited scholars through sponsored research, advisory input, and collaborative programs. This structure ensures that academic research remains aligned with the real manufacturing challenges facing companies operating in food, medicine, and advanced materials.

“Modern medicines are increasingly complex to manufacture,” said David A. Ricks, Chair and CEO of Eli Lilly and Company. “Advancing the technologies that make production more efficient and reliable is essential to keeping supply secure and ensuring access for patients. This investment deepens Lilly’s collaboration with Indiana’s leading research universities and advanced chemistry experts, and Lilly is excited to work with the researchers recruited through the Catalyst Scholars Fund to help translate innovation into impact.”

Additional Perspectives from Initiative Partners

Chuck Magro, CEO, Corteva
“Innovation in advanced chemistry and manufacturing processes is essential because as the world grows, we will need to grow more food on the same amount of land, manage our environmental footprint, and strengthen the food supply chain farmers and Hoosiers depend upon. The Catalyst Scholars Fund creates exactly the kind of industry-university partnerships we need, bringing world-class scientists together with global agriculture leaders to turn new ideas into practical tools that help farmers do what they do best – feed the world.”

Jeff Simmons, President and CEO, Elanco Animal Health
“When people find their ‘why,’ they go further than they ever imagined, and the same is true for regions and ecosystems. The Catalyst Scholars Fund gives Indiana researchers and innovators a compelling purpose: supporting the health and wellbeing of pets and increasing the availability and affordability of protein that the world is counting on. Further, we’re creating a destination for global talent that wants to make a real difference in animal health and the future of food.”

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About Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP)
The Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) was formed in 1999 to bring together the chief executives of the region’s prominent corporations, foundations and universities in a strategic and collaborative effort dedicated to Indiana’s continued prosperity and growth. To advance this mission, CICP sponsors five key talent and industry sector initiatives, AgriNovus Indiana, Ascend Indiana, BioCrossroads, Conexus Indiana,  and TechPoint, each of which addresses challenges and opportunities unique to its respective area: agbiosciences, talent and workforce development, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and logistics, and technology. CICP Foundation, Inc. operates exclusively for the benefit of and carries out the mission of CICP by engaging and supporting its charitable activities. To learn more about the CICP, visit www.cicpindiana.com.

About BioCrossroads
BioCrossroads is a catalyst for life sciences innovation and growth in Indiana. As an initiative of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, BioCrossroads connects industry leaders, research institutions, investors, and entrepreneurs to advance breakthrough discoveries, accelerate startups, strengthen manufacturing, and develop talent. Through strategic partnerships and targeted investments, BioCrossroads has helped position Indiana as the nation’s leading state for life sciences and pharmaceutical exports. Visit www.biocrossroads.com to learn more about BioCrossroads.

About AgriNovus Indiana
AgriNovus Indiana, a branded initiative of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), is a non-profit organization focused on advancing the agbioscience sector by connecting and convening stakeholders to deliver innovative ways to inspire and attract agbiosciences talent, companies and innovation to the state. Learn more at www.AgriNovusIndiana.com.

About Lilly Endowment Inc.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private foundation created in 1937 by J. K. Lilly and his sons, Eli and J.K. Jr., through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, the Endowment is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with its founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. While the Endowment funds programs throughout the United States on an invitational basis to support these causes, especially in the field of religion, it maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.

U.S. Senator Todd Young Recognized as 2025 Watanabe Life Sciences Champion for Leadership in Biotechnology, Advanced Manufacturing, and Innovation Policy Strengthening Indiana’s National Role in the Life Sciences.

INDIANAPOLIS (December 2025) —BioCrossroads has named U.S. Senator Todd Young as the recipient of the 2025 August M. Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year Award, recognizing his visionary leadership in advancing innovation, collaboration, and U.S. competitiveness across the life sciences.

Senator Young was recognized for his leadership in advancing federal policies that directly reinforce Indiana’s strengths in biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and One Health innovation. Through his work on the CHIPS and Science Act, his role as chair of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, and his support for initiatives such as the Heartland BioWorks Tech Hub and workforce development partnerships, he has helped align national innovation and security priorities with opportunities for Indiana’s research institutions, companies, and talent pipeline. This record reflects the type of long-term, ecosystem-wide impact that the August M. Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year Award was created to recognize.

The award was established in honor of BioCrossroads’ late chairman, Dr. August “Gus” M. Watanabe, an esteemed and transformative figure in Indiana’s life sciences community, and celebrates those who have significantly advanced the development, education, and promotion of Indiana’s life sciences and healthcare sector; personify the emerging face of the industry; and drive innovative developments that have both local and global impacts. Past distinguished honorees have come from diverse backgrounds, including entrepreneurial ventures, research, corporate leadership, medical practice, academia, and philanthropy.

Dr. Watanabe’s passion and impact on Indiana’s life sciences community were transformative and enduring. Beyond his professional accomplishments, his caring and nurturing spirit continues to inspire the many people he touched throughout his career. Each recipient of this award embodies Dr. Watanabe’s legacy, contributing profoundly to the state’s growth in life sciences through their dedication and cumulative efforts.

Past Watanabe Life Science Champion of the Year Recipients

BioCrossroads Launches Startup Hub, a New Centralized Platform for Indiana’s Life Sciences Startup Ecosystem

INDIANAPOLIS [January 22, 2025] – BioCrossroads today officially launched the BioCrossroads Startup Hub, a new, comprehensive ecosystem platform designed to serve as a centralized front door for Indiana’s life sciences startup community. Built as a continually evolving resource, this online hub brings together funding pathways, mentorship, regulatory and clinical resources, startup visibility, and ecosystem connections in one place.

The platform targets a longstanding challenge within Indiana’s innovation economy: while the state is home to one of the strongest life sciences ecosystems in the country, the resources that support startups have historically been fragmented across many organizations and websites. That fragmentation can slow momentum for founders, limit visibility for investors, and create unnecessary barriers to growth.

The BioCrossroads Startup Hub is designed for the multiple stakeholders critical to a thriving startup ecosystem— researchers and innovators exploring commercialization; investors seeking Indiana-based life sciences opportunities; and ecosystem organizations supporting startup growth. The site will equip founders and investors with the full set of tools needed to access and navigate Indiana’s life sciences ecosystem.

“Indiana is number one in the nation for life sciences and pharmaceutical exports, and we have world-class research, talent, and industry leadership,” said Vince Wong, President and CEO of BioCrossroads. “The BioCrossroads Startup Hub helps translate these strengths into a thriving startup ecosystem. By curating and aggregating critical resources in one place, this platform gives founders clarity, connects investors to promising startups, and reinforces Indiana’s advantage as a connected, high-performing life sciences ecosystem.”

The platform includes:

An interactive startup journey map with stage-specific guidance
Indiana-specific funding pathways, including grants, angel networks, and venture capital
A searchable directory of life sciences startups
Mentorship and peer support programs
Clinical data assets and regulatory resources
University innovation and commercialization programs

The resource hub launch comes on the heels of last week’s announcement of the launch of BioCrossroads’ new early-stage venture fund, Crossroads Health Ventures (CHV). The fund has secured more than $21 million in commitments and will begin deploying capital in early 2026. CHV is another example of BioCrossroads’ focus on providing critical support for promising innovations.

The BioCrossroads Resource Hub also advances BioCrossroads’ broader mission by expanding engagement with founders, increasing ecosystem visibility, and strengthening Indiana’s innovation pipeline. As a dynamic platform, it will be regularly updated with new startups, funding sources, events, and resources, with built-in submission tools to encourage ongoing community participation.

Learn more at: BioCrossroads.com/Startup.

About BioCrossroads

Established as a catalyst to advance, grow, and invest in Indiana’s life sciences sector, BioCrossroads is an initiative of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP). It supports the region’s existing enterprises and encourages new business development. The initiative fosters public-private collaboration by uniting a diverse range of academic, industry, and philanthropic stakeholders, all collectively focused on advancing Indiana’s life sciences sector. Committed to supporting the growth of capital investments and talent development, BioCrossroads provides support to both existing and new life sciences enterprises, including the Indiana Health Information Exchange, OrthoWorx, and the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute. BioCrossroads champions the advancement of cutting-edge research and development, plays a crucial role in building and nurturing a robust talent pipeline, and is dedicated to establishing Indiana as a thriving hub for life sciences manufacturing. To learn more about BioCrossroads, visit biocrossroads.com.

Crossroads Health Ventures Announces First Fund with More Than $21 Million Committed to Strengthen Indiana’s Life Sciences Innovation Pipeline

INDIANAPOLIS (Jan. 21, 2026) – Crossroads Health Ventures (CHV) announced its launch of a new early-stage venture fund created to accelerate the growth of Indiana’s life sciences startups and reinforce the state’s global leadership across human, animal, and plant health innovation.

The fund has secured more than $21 million in commitments from strategic and institutional partners such as Eli Lilly and Company, Corteva, Elanco Animal Health, Indiana University, Parkview Health, and the State of Indiana through the Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). CHV will begin deploying capital in early 2026.

“Indiana is one of the nation’s strongest and most vibrant life sciences hubs, and Crossroads Health Ventures is an important next step in fueling our state’s innovation economy,” said Vince Wong, President and CEO of BioCrossroads and Crossroads Health Ventures. “With the State of Indiana’s transformational commitment and the leadership of our industry, academic, and investment partners, Crossroads Health Ventures fills a critical early-stage funding gap to help translate breakthrough ideas into high-growth Indiana companies that ultimately make a global impact.”

“This collaborative initiative is a transformative opportunity to propel Indiana’s already strong One Health economy,” said Secretary of Commerce David J. Adams. “Through Crossroads Health Ventures, the state–in partnership with industry and regional leadership–is lifting up entrepreneurs and startups to drive innovation across human, animal and plant health, creating next-generation solutions and solidifying Indiana’s global leadership.”

Indiana’s life sciences sector is already experiencing historic momentum. The state now ranks #1 in the U.S. for life sciences exports driven by global industry leaders, world-class research universities, and a highly skilled workforce. Access to early-stage capital is important to startups, and CHV is designed to address this need. With coordinated statewide leadership, a strong pipeline of promising innovations, and a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem, the fund will help ensure that more of Indiana’s life science discoveries grow into Indiana-based companies, creating jobs, attracting investment, and advancing solutions that improve health around the world.

“Indiana University is proud to join this collaborative effort to advance life-changing innovation across our state,” said Pamela Whitten, President, Indiana University. “Crossroads Health Ventures will help ensure that breakthrough discoveries—from IU researchers and entrepreneurs throughout Indiana—have the support they need to reach patients, clinicians, and communities. This initiative reflects the strength of Indiana’s research ecosystem and our shared commitment to fueling economic growth through scientific discovery.”

CHV will invest in 15–20 early-stage U.S.-based companies with assets that align with the strategic priorities of its partners, with the flexibility to concentrate investments in Indiana-based startups where there is strong alignment, differentiated opportunity, and potential for outsized return. The fund will support companies through key development and commercialization milestones and will provide follow-on capital to help founders reach critical inflection points.

“At Elanco, we know that innovation flourishes in strong, connected ecosystems that serve as pipelines for the next generation of technologies. Leveraging the strong support from Indiana’s unique One Health ecosystem with global leaders in human, animal, and plant health sectors, Crossroads Health Ventures provides the early-stage capital and strategic partnerships necessary for emerging life sciences companies to thrive,” said Jeff Simmons, President and CEO of Elanco Animal Health. “We believe Indiana is the most ideal location to accelerate life sciences innovations given the collaboration of leading global companies, top-tier research universities, and a strong public partnership that creates access to capital, expertise and manufacturing and pilot capabilities.”

A cross-initiative collaboration among BioCrossroads, TechPoint, and AgriNovus Indiana, CHV leverages more than 60 years of combined investment, startup, and corporate operating experience. Through deep networks, proprietary deal flow, and an integrated platform of entrepreneurial support, CHV is designed to accelerate startups’ growth, attract outside capital, and expand Indiana’s life sciences economy.

About Crossroads Health Ventures
As part of BC Initiative, Inc., a for-profit entity, Crossroads Health Ventures is an early-stage venture fund investing in human, animal, and plant health assets and enabling technologies. Powered by BioCrossroads, TechPoint, and AgriNovus Indiana, the fund sources high-quality deals, supports founders, and advances Indiana’s leadership in life sciences innovation.

How BioCrossroads’ 10-Year Strategy is Positioning Indiana to Lead the Future of Life Sciences

A message from Vince Wong, President and CEO, BioCrossroads and Indiana Seed Funds

As we look ahead to the year to come, I’m excited not only by how far Indiana’s life sciences sector has traveled, but even more so with the incredible potential that still lies ahead.

Two years ago, BioCrossroads launched a 10-year strategy grounded in the shared belief that Indiana could become a global leader in life sciences by intentionally aligning our strengths in manufacturing, research, talent, and collaboration. Today, that strategy is no longer just words on paper. It is taking shape in measurable, meaningful ways across the state, structured around four key pillars: Advancing Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Expanding Manufacturing; Building Talent and Workforce Development Pathways; and Establishing Thought Leadership through Community and Collaboration. In all four areas, we’ve made significant progress.

Indiana is a powerhouse in innovation, as evidenced by the patent productivity of our research community, both academic and industry, and peer-reviewed publications generated by Indiana-based researchers. However, the state lags in translating those discoveries and inventions into products and solutions that ultimately lead to patient and economic development impact. Bridging this gap requires a multi-dimensional approach that includes leadership, incentives, capital, and community.

Leadership at Indiana’s universities have a greater appreciation, now more than ever, in the importance of converting research investments into real-world impact. Thus, university tenure structures are expanding from the conventional currency of grant funding and publications to intellectual property, industry collaborations, and companies started. This shift sends a strong signal to existing and prospective faculty of what phenotype Indiana’s universities seek to attract and retain.

The launch of IU LAB is a great example of Indiana University’s heightened commitment to foster collaborations between IU’s formidable research engine with industry partners. Once built, IU LAB will serve as another attractive incubator of promising life science start-ups, founded by IU faculty, alumni, and beyond.

The Indiana Biosciences Research Institute (IBRI) recently made an exciting step in its evolution with its formation of LIBRIS, a for-profit entity that will serve as a catalyst for the development and commercialization of promising assets coming from its talented researchers.

A robust portfolio of accelerators and incubator programming and services have launched, including BioCrossroads’ AXIS mentoring program and IU LAB’s Lifetech Accelerator (with partner IU Health) powered by Gener8tor, Plug and Play, and BioCrossroads. These initiatives create a highly supportive community for life science innovators and dreamers.

Finally, Indiana’s federal tech hub Heartland BioWorks’ non-dilutive BioCAN grants and the formation of Crossroads Health Ventures, with $22M in committed capital help provide critical funding to startups. These initiatives represent the DNA of an exciting innovation organism that will grow and flourish in Indiana.

Indiana is the nation’s leading exporter of life sciences products. We continue to strengthen our position as a pharmaceutical manufacturing powerhouse, while accelerating growth in medical devices and advancing leadership in fast-growing areas of innovation. Lilly has committed over $13B in investments at the LEAP innovation district. Beyond Lilly, Autocam, West Pharmaceuticals, INCOG, Stevanato, and Simtra are just a few companies that have either broken ground on new faculties or expanded existing ones in Indiana over the past two years.

Radiopharmaceuticals have emerged as a clear example of this strategy in action. In 2025, Indiana was recognized as the Radiopharmaceutical Capital of the World™, the result of coordinated ecosystem building led in part by BioCrossroads’ state-wide Radiopharmaceutical Working Group. And major investments have flowed in—Novartis opened its largest and most advanced radioligand therapy manufacturing facility globally in Indianapolis. Orano Med launched a first-of-its-kind alpha therapy lab in Brownsburg. And Eli Lilly and Company advanced partnerships totaling more than $1 billion in the radiopharmaceutical space.

Again, these are not isolated wins. They represent Indiana’s intentional focus on highly specialized, capital-intensive, and fast-growing areas of medicine, which is exactly the type of focused efforts required to meet the 2033 benchmark.

At the same time, BioCrossroads and its partners recognize that talent and workforce is a critical success factor for continued growth.

Every metric, R&D excellence, manufacturing leadership, or company diversification, depends on talent. That reality is why workforce investment has been accelerated early in the 10-year plan.

From the $51 million federally backed Heartland BioWorks BioTrain facility to the Indiana Career Apprenticeship Pathway (INCAP) and the Lilly Scholars at Purdue program, Indiana is building age demographic-specific pathways into high-value life sciences careers, both for hourly and professional occupations. Indiana’s exclusive license covering the Midwest region for world-class curriculum from the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) will position the state as a regional center of excellence for biopharma manufacturing training. These initiatives directly support the metrics by ensuring companies can scale, innovate, and stay rooted in Indiana.

Two years into BioCrossroads’ strategic plan, progress is visible across the state. New ventures are emerging alongside global incumbents. Early-stage companies are gaining access to manufacturing, capital, and mentorship. Initiatives like READI are ensuring that communities across Indiana, not just the big cities, are prepared to support growth.

And just this month, BioCrossroads has launched two resources to support and grow this company base. Startup Indiana is BioCrossroads’ new website designed to serve as a centralized front door for Indiana’s life sciences startup community. This site brings together funding pathways, mentorship, regulatory and clinical resources, startup visibility, and ecosystem connections in one place. To further support startups and access to funding, BioCrossroads’ Crossroads Health Ventures announced its launch and first close of a new early-stage venture fund created to accelerate the growth of Indiana’s life sciences startups and reinforce the state’s global leadership across human, animal, and plant health innovation.

This progress is the result of coordination and commitment across industry, academia, government, and communities statewide. It reflects a deliberate shift from isolated successes to an integrated, resilient ecosystem—one designed to compete and win on a global stage over the next decade.

Indiana stands at the crossroads of medicine, manufacturing, and innovation. The path forward is ambitious, and it’s one we’re building together.

BioCrossroads’ AXIS Mentoring Program: Meet the First Two Cohorts

A core tenet of BioCrossroads’ mission is bringing people from Indiana’s life science sector together to increase our collective impact. We convene to collaborate. And no program better exemplifies these efforts than our AXIS mentoring program, which is designed to provide structured, team-based mentorship to early-stage life sciences entrepreneurs.

What sets AXIS apart from other mentoring efforts is its focus on connection without institutional boundaries. AXIS is supported by powerful partners like IU, Purdue, Notre Dame, 16 Tech, Heartland BioWorks, and is operated through BioCrossroads. Entrepreneurs from anywhere in Indiana and at any stage can participate. BioCrossroads has recruited mentors from across the life sciences, bringing a wide range of professional and personal experience. Our mentor pool includes some of Indiana’s leading life sciences professionals, motivated to help advance and scale the next generation of innovation.

The vision for AXIS is clear: cultivate a vibrant, inclusive, and interconnected life sciences ecosystem, with mentorship as the foundation for translating ideas into impact and retaining our top talent in the state. AXIS will play a critical role in helping early career scientists and emerging companies avoid common pitfalls, accelerate their growth, expand career pathways, and navigate the complex regulatory, funding, and commercialization environments unique to the life sciences sector. Drawing from the proven model of MIT’s Venture Mentoring Service (VMS), the program builds a strong support system for individuals navigating the challenges of scientific innovation, commercialization, and founder growth.

Launched by BioCrossroads in 2025, AXIS has already supported two cohorts that have pitched their ideas and begun advancing their work.

How You Can Get Involved

Apply as a mentee: Early-career scientists, researchers, and life sciences founders are encouraged to join the next cohort.
Become a mentor: Seasoned professionals can share expertise and make tangible impact.
Partner and support: Regional stakeholders can bolster AXIS’s reach and deepen its ecosystem influence.

The success of AXIS hinges on its collaborative spirit—mentors, mentees, partners, and supporters working together to nurture vibrant, sustainable growth in Indiana’s life sciences sector.

Cohort 1

Qwyn AI
AXIS Mentee: Adam Martin
Developer of an artificial intelligence-powered quality management platform designed to help life sciences organizations accelerate investigations, automate root cause analysis and prevent recurrence of quality issues. The company offers guided investigation workflows, automated documentation, regulatory intelligence, and trend detection, enabling pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturers to maintain compliance, reduce cycle times, and improve product quality.

IndiAide Inc.
AXIS Mentee: Alyssa Antcliff
Developer of a daily task management platform designed to centralize the management of important health and personal information. The company’s platform improves functional independence and continuity of care for people with medical complexities, cognitive impairments, those who are aging in place, and their families, enabling clients to manage daily tasks and wellbeing for individuals with cognitive impairment.

Quornix
AXIS Mentee: Dr. Julia van Kessel and Dr. Laura Brown
Developer of small-molecule therapeutics that target bacterial quorum sensing to disrupt pathogenic behavior without directly killing bacteria. The company’s approach aims to reduce antimicrobial resistance while addressing infectious disease challenges in human health and aquaculture. Quornix is based in Bloomington, Indiana, and was formed around Indiana University–derived research.

Delta Ops AI
AXIS Mentee: Dr. Pengyi Shi
Operator of workforce management intended to optimize staff allocation in healthcare settings. The company’s platform uses advanced optimization algorithms to assign nurses effectively across daily shifts and long-term schedules, considering factors such as unit needs and medical campus requirements, enabling healthcare organizations to maximize operational efficiency, reduce labor costs, and improve care delivery by ensuring the right staff are in the right place at the right time.

GoldiloxBio
AXIS Mentee: Dr. Milos Marinkovic
Developer of physiologically relevant preclinical testing platforms that replicate tissue-specific extracellular matrix environments to improve cardiomyocyte function and cardiac toxicity assessment. The company’s technology is designed to generate more predictive safety and efficacy data earlier in the drug development process. Its platform serves biopharmaceutical companies seeking to reduce late-stage clinical failures.

Peak Mind
AXIS Mentee: Alicia Mckoy
Operator of an employee well-being application designed to help businesses build connections and a culture of care for their employees. The company’s application measures stress levels and offers coping mechanisms through a library of tools, enabling organizations in education and public safety to improve employee well-being and reduce stress-related expenses.

Amplicore, Inc.
AXIS Mentee: Dr. Stacey Gruber
Developer of injectable therapeutic drugs designed to treat degenerative musculoskeletal disorders to serve unmet medical needs. The company’s drugs promote cartilage regeneration and suppress enzymatic activities to treat degenerative musculoskeletal disorders, enabling healthcare organizations to seamlessly provide relief to patients from joint pain.

Cohort 2

ReactRX
AXIS Mentee: Dr. Emma Tillman
Developer of an AI-enabled pharmacovigilance platform designed to transform passive adverse drug reaction reporting into a real-time, interactive safety monitoring system. The company’s platform engages patients beyond pharmacy pickup to collect denominator-aware safety data, enable early signal detection, and deliver actionable insights to pharmaceutical companies, CROs, and regulators.

Vasculonics
AXIS Mentee: Brad Lawson
Developer of a disease-modifying therapeutic platform designed to reduce progression and mortality in pulmonary arterial hypertension. The company offers a novel selective aryl hydrocarbon receptor modulator that targets inflammation, oxidative stress, fibrosis, and vascular toxicity, enabling treatment of individuals with pulmonary arterial hypertension, improved quality of life, and survival.

Narrow-Spectrum Antibiotics Targeting Bacterial Carbonic Anhydrase
Faculty-Led Research | Company Formation Opportunity
AXIS Mentee: Dr. Daniel Flaherty
Developer of a novel narrow-spectrum antibiotic platform targeting bacterial carbonic anhydrase enzymes to selectively treat drug-resistant pathogens while preserving the gut microbiome. The underlying faculty-led research demonstrates potency against high-priority indications including vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus and drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae, with applications in both treatment and pre-exposure decolonization. The technology represents a differentiated antimicrobial mechanism with no known competitors in this enzyme class and is currently positioned for startup formation and translational development.

echoSURE
AXIS Mentee: Raishma Anwar
Developer of a bedside medical device that verifies nasogastric feeding tube placement using proprietary acoustic sensing and signal-processing technology. The solution enables rapid, point-of-care confirmation without reliance on radiographic imaging. The technology is intended to improve patient safety while reducing delays and costs associated with X-ray confirmation.

TruePulse Health
AXIS Mentee: Dr. Sujata Punait
Developer of a software platform that provides continuous, real-time monitoring of autonomic nervous system activity to deliver personalized stress and recovery insights to clinicians. The company’s ANSense platform integrates multi-signal physiological data with advanced analytics to enable earlier detection of autonomic dysfunction and proactive intervention, particularly in maternal care settings. TruePulse Health monetizes its platform through a B2B subscription and setup fee model, with plans to expand into value-based care and broader high-acuity clinical markets.

The BioCrossroads Startup Hub: Indiana's Central Platform for Life Sciences Innovation

Building a life sciences company in Indiana means tapping into one of the strongest ecosystems in the country. The resources, expertise, and support are here, and we’re making them easier than ever to access.

On January 20, BioCrossroads will launch the BioCrossroads Startup Hub, Indiana’s first centralized platform for life sciences founders, investors, and ecosystem partners. This new hub brings together funding pathways, startup directories, commercialization resources, mentorship programs, and regulatory guidance—everything early-stage companies need to grow in Indiana.

Why This Matters

Indiana leads the nation in life sciences and pharmaceutical exports. We’re home to global industry leaders, world-class research universities, and a thriving community of entrepreneurs building the next generation of healthcare solutions. But historically, the resources supporting these startups, like funding opportunities, mentorship programs, regulatory guidance, clinical assets, have been spread across dozens of organizations and websites.

That fragmentation slows momentum for founders who need clarity, limits visibility for investors seeking opportunities, and makes it challenging for our ecosystem to move at the speed innovation demands. The BioCrossroads Startup Hub solves that problem by bringing everything together in one place. The platform is built for founders at any stage, whether you’re a researcher exploring commercialization for the first time, a startup scaling toward Series A, or an investor looking for Indiana-based opportunities.

What You’ll Find

An interactive startup journey map with stage-specific guidance tailored to where you are today
Indiana-specific funding pathways, including grants, angel networks, and venture capital sources
A searchable directory of life sciences startups across the state
Mentorship and peer support programs to help navigate the unique challenges of building in life sciences
Clinical data assets and regulatory resources critical for product development and commercialization
University innovation and commercialization programs connecting academic research to market applications

Built to Evolve

The Hub is designed as a living platform that will grow alongside Indiana’s ecosystem, and will continue to be updated with new startups, funding sources, events, and resources.

Indiana’s strength in life sciences manufacturing, talent development, and research excellence creates a foundation that few states can match. The BioCrossroads Startup Hub helps ensure our startup ecosystem leverages that foundation to its fullest potential.

The platform launches January 20 at BioCrossroads.com/Startup.

We’re excited to see what you build.

BioCrossroads’ Role in the Accelerator

As a partner in the inaugural Plug and Play Lifetech Accelerator, BioCrossroads is helping to connect global innovators with Indiana’s robust life sciences ecosystem. Through our network of corporate, academic, and community partners, we are working to ensure that these startups have access to the expertise, resources, and collaborative environment needed to accelerate their growth. Our involvement reflects BioCrossroads’ ongoing commitment to advancing innovation, supporting entrepreneurship, and strengthening Indiana’s position as one of the nation’s top life sciences hubs.

Read the full release from Plug and Play:

INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Plug and Play, the world’s largest innovation platform, today announced the 12 companies selected for the inaugural batch of its Lifetech accelerator program in Indianapolis.

The cohort draws from a global talent pool and represents startup companies from eight states and three countries. Over the next four months, these founders will collaborate with Plug and Play’s Lifetech partners, including IU LAB, BioCrossroads, IU Health, and Indiana University, to accelerate the future of healthcare and life sciences. The program will culminate with an expo event in February 2026, at which the graduating startups will pitch their solutions to an audience of corporate executives, investors, industry leaders, and the community.

“The IU LAB is proud to partner with Plug and Play, Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and IU Health to help grow Indiana’s innovation economy,” said David Rosenberg, President and CEO of the IU LAB. “This partnership reflects our commitment to translating IU’s $1 billion research enterprise, attracting and developing world-class talent, and building the next generation of companies right here in Indiana. Together, we’re strengthening the state’s position as a national hub for life sciences and groundbreaking innovation.”

The selected companies are pioneering advancements across the life sciences spectrum focused on human health. Their innovations include next-generation therapeutics for cancer and chronic diseases, novel drug delivery platforms, non-invasive diagnostics for early disease detection, medical devices, AI-driven medical imaging, and stem-cell-derived organoid development.

The Batch 1 Lifetech startups are:

AGED Diagnostics – AGED Diagnostics is the first accurate blood test for fatty liver disease that affects 1 in 3 Americans.
Amplicore – Amplicore is developing a new class of injectable therapeutics as novel regenerative approaches to treat musculoskeletal disorders.
Amplified Sciences – Amplified Sciences is revolutionizing disease detection with a commercial stage test that helps physicians more accurately detect risk for pancreatic cancer built on their ultra-sensitive optical reporter platform.
Door Pharma – Door Pharma attacks chronic hepatitis B by targeting the viral nucleocapsid protein.
Grannus Therapeutics – Grannus Therapeutics is focused on the development of a novel first-in-class therapeutic for the treatment of ovarian cancer.
Intero Biosystems – Intero Biosystems creates stem cell-derived mini organs to predict how drugs behave in humans before clinical trials.
Modella AI – Modella AI is transforming human medicine by shortening the time to diagnosis and informing treatment options for pathologically driven diseases like cancer.
OmniSpirant Therapeutics – OmniSpirant Therapeutics is an Irish biotech developing a disruptive RNA delivery platform technology, “OmniSomes.” This proprietary technology is highly differentiated, utilizing bioengineered Mesenchymal Stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) as novel non-viral vectors for highly efficient RNA delivery, which uniquely confers additional regenerative medicine properties and benefits.
OsseoLabs – OsseoLabs is a medtech company pioneering AI-driven surgical planning and 3D-printed personalized implants to improve patient outcomes, reduce surgical risks, and bring precision care to hospitals globally.
OsteoCure Therapeutics – OsteoCure Therapeutics is a Duke spinout and JLABS company developing an adenosine platform for treating both fracture repair and osteoporosis.
Scioto Biosciences – Scioto Biosciences is targeting a breakthrough gut-brain therapy designed to help children with autism thrive by supporting early development and lasting progress.
Synch Neuro – SynchNeuro has developed the world’s first brain-based non-invasive glucose monitor.

“This inaugural batch of startups is a testament to the incredible innovation happening in the life sciences,” said Brandon Noll, Director of Plug and Play Indiana. “We’re thrilled to bring these entrepreneurs to Indianapolis, a city with a rich history in the life sciences, where they will directly engage with leading life science experts as well as tap into the robust network of resources available for every phase of their journey through Plug and Play’s global innovation platform. The future of medicine is being shaped right here, and we’re excited to be part of that growth.”

Launched in September 2025, the IU LAB Lifetech Accelerator was created by Plug and Play in collaboration with Indiana University, IU Health, and regional partners to strengthen Indiana’s position as a leader in life sciences innovation. The program supports startups developing breakthroughs in therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, and biotechnology through mentorship, investor access, and corporate collaboration.

To learn more about Plug and Play Lifetech, visit: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/industries/lifetech.

About Plug and Play

Plug and Play is the leading innovation platform, connecting startups, corporations, venture capital firms, universities, and government agencies. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we’re present in 60+ locations across 25+ industries. We offer corporate innovation programs, helping our partners in every stage of their innovation journey, from education to execution. We also run startup acceleration programs and have built an in-house VC where we’ve invested in hundreds of successful companies, including Dropbox, Guardant Health, Honey, Lending Club, N26, PayPal, and Rappi. For more information, visit Plug and Play Tech Center.